BY KAREN SIM WEN KUN
Getting yourself out of your comfort zone means getting used to new challenges, and only by being exposed to new things can you discover your own abilities.
Masni, a Year 3 student of International Economics at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), went from being a very introverted girl to becoming the chairperson and leader of a society named SPADE, short for Society of Professional and Academic Development in Economics.
Recalling the time of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020, she said that it made her feel more and less connected to other people due to her sudden inability to communicate with people, making her more introverted as her identity was gradually hidden.
University life provides students with the opportunity to experience the workings of society, the communication between people, the situations, and the ways to cope with them before they go to the big society in the “presociety”.
Finally, in Masni’s second year of university, she felt that, as a university student, she should not be just a frog at the bottom of a well. She felt that she should not be confined to her small circle and needed to step out of her comfort zone. She felt that the best way to change herself was by joining the Faculty of Economics and Business Society, where she could learn to be part of society and learn to take on positions that would allow her to grow and discover a different version of herself.
By chance, Arfa, Masni’s senior and SPADE committee member, encouraged Masni to submit her resume to SPADE, and Masni sent in her application with the Department Special Task Unit in mind.
“I applied for a regular position and didn’t even think about applying for a high position because I know it’s not easy to become a leader. I preferred a behind-the-scenes position, like making Google Forms and feedback forms, because I’m interested in researching with the use of computers, so I never actually thought that I would become a chairperson.”
Then, the surprise came: Masni was appointed vice chairperson in the first year of her joining the society under batch 22/23, and in this year’s batch 23/24, she was appointed chairperson. Initially, she was a bit surprised because it was beyond her expectations, but at the same time, she felt that it was an excellent opportunity for her to grow, so she welcomed the responsibility with open arms.
“For me, the biggest improvement I’ve made is that I jumped out of my comfort zone, as I must communicate with the team in order to lead and not stay behind the shadows. I had to be active and engage with other people, with UNTAN, UITM, Deputy Dean of Student Affairs Division of UNIMAS, and other chairpersons in the Faculty of Economics and Business.
“As an introvert, initially it was not an easy task for me to communicate with others. Also, as a chairperson, I can’t just order my team members around; I should also do my duties well and lead by example. I also need to think about how to coordinate and delegate duties to my team members and keep the synergy in check so that the whole team will get along well and have confidence in me,” Masni said.
As mentioned earlier, Masni’s self-confidence had diminished during MCO. When she became chairperson, she had to stand on the stage and introduce SPADE to many people, promote its activities, and introduce the members. Finding the courage to stand up on stage and speak confidently with a microphone was truly a daunting task for her.
There was also the pressure of speaking publicly at the university and conveying a clear message, which was also a great challenge. Although she had experience with speeches in school, at the time, there were scripts that she could memorise and also guidance from teachers. In universities, speeches on stage are more official but free-flowing. Masni added that speaking skills are always a growing process, as there is always room for improvement.
Masni has always admired people who can stand before everyone and talk, so she often follows the example of experienced seniors to learn their trade. She often practices, imitates and refers to their body language and tone of voice. According to her, these are the important processes of learning and growth.
SPADE usually takes the lead in organising activities, so for Masni, it is also her responsibility to push herself to accelerate her growth, become a chairperson who can speak on behalf of SPADE, and constantly improve herself to fill in the roles of a leader.
“My philosophy in life is to love yourself, accept your appearance, and strive to be what you want to be. By doing so, it can greatly improve your self-confidence. Everyone has great potential. Having the right philosophy in life can become a driving force to overcome all difficulties.
**This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
